Miscellaneous
Bird Flu
▪ A casualty was observed in Andhra Pradesh from bird flu virus marking India’s second recorded human fatality from H5N1 since 2021.
About Bird flu
▪ Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic birds.
It is caused by avian influenza A viruses, with subtypes such as H5N1 and H5N8 being particularly significant.
▪ Transmission: H5N1 spreads primarily through direct contact with infected live or dead birds or contaminated environments (e.g., live bird markets).
▪ Rarely, transmission from infected mammals to humans has been observed. Though human infections are rare, H5N1 has a high fatality rate (~60%), much higher than the peak fatality of Covid-19 (~3%). Also, airborne transmission has not been confirmed in humans.
▪ Human-to-human transmission remains extremely rare. The virus continues to evolve, and if it mutates to allow sustained human-to-human transmission, it could trigger a global pandemic.
▪ Hence, H5N1 is listed as a priority disease under WHO R&D Blueprint.
▪ Treatment: Antiviral drugs like oseltamivir are effective, especially when administered early in high-risk or severe cases.
▪ Vaccination: Current seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against H5N1.
✓ Some countries have developed H5N1-specific vaccines for emergency use.
